"The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board['s] retail and wholesale system would remain intact. And while private companies would be able to purchase wholesale wine licenses for $100 million apiece, the LCB will be the sole source for the wholesale of liquor and could still sell wine.

This will create a parallel system. It will create 1,200 new opportunities for people throughout the state to purchase wine? (at existing beer distributors), said Liquor Control Chairman John Taylor, R-Philadelphia, who introduced the omnibus amendment. ?This will create the competition and we will see who?s right, whether it?s the LCB or the private market."

In a statement which most likely contained words he uttered more or less in order, Turzai said the committee's vote is an acknowledgment that "the current State Store system is broken and beyond repair."

"This is a huge step for Pennsylvania consumers,” Turzai said in the statement. “Time and time again, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) has proven how antiquated and out of touch the current system is – Pennsylvanians understand this and want change. The time has come to get government out of the alcohol business.”

But before the House dislocates a shoulder patting itself on the back, it's not clear the Senate will even touch the bill if it should make its way out of the House.

There is, for instance, the small matter of the Senate wanting what it wants on the shale and school choice, which could ... ahhh ... delay consideration of the House booze bill until everyone figures out how to play nicely.

So, y'know, congrats to the House GOP and all. But keep the corks in that champagne, kids.